Bedclothes-fastener.



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a. A. ALLEN. BEDCLOTHES FASTEQNERYQ (Application filed July 80, 1900:)

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Zfl w/ I Jaw n5 uonms PETERS 60., mom-Luna, WASHINBION. D4 cv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. ALLEN, OF COLETA, ILLINOIS.

BEDCLOTHES-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,881, dated April 30, 1901. Application filed July 30, 1900- Serial No- 25,262- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ooleta, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedclothes-Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bedclothes-fasteners, and aims to provide certain novel devices for securing the bedclothes at the sides of the bed and preventing a disturbance thereof. It has been found necessary to secure devices of this class to the side pieces or rails of the bed, and such devices heretofore known have been attached and used on the upper edge of the rail, forming more or less of an obstruction, whereas in my invention I seek to place the mechanism a sufficient distance below the upper edge of the rail as to be practically out of the way. The action of my device is also positive and adapted to any thickness of bed-covering, permitting of no slipping of such covering therefrom.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my device while in use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are to represent modifications of my device. Fig. 5 is-a sectional view through the movable jaw.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the rail of the bed, Figs. 1 and 2.

2 is a metallic plate, havingits ends turned at right angles, forming the projections 3 and 4, the projection 3 resting upon the upper edge of the rail 1 and the projection 4: having a threaded perforation 5 and thumb-screw 6 engaged thereby and adapted to impinge the lower edge of the rail 1 and clamp the plate 2 thereto. The plate 2 is further provided With the stationary jaw 7, extending transversely thereof and having a convex face. Secured to the plate 2 are two ears 8, between which is pivotally secured a movable jaw 9, provided with a concave face conforming in shape with and adapted to engage the jaw '7. A bolt 10,secured to the plate 2,passes through a slot 11 in the jaw 9 and is furnished with a thumb-nut 12.

Figs. 3 and 4 exhibit additional methods of securing the plate 2 to the rail. In Fig. 3 the projection 4 is again turned at right angles into the arm 13, such arm being provided with the clamping-screw 6. In Fig. lthe projection 3 is projected into the arm let, permitting of the hooking of the plate 2 upon the upper edge of the rail.

The operation of my device is obvious. The edge of the bed-covering is drawn over the side and inserted between the jaws, which are then compressed by means of the bolt 10 until the covering is firmly grasped thereby.

It would ordinarily be sufficient to have one of my devices on each side of the bed, at or near the foot thereof; but in some cases it might be desirable to use another pair nearer the head of the bed.

The position of the jaws with reference to the top of the rail depends upon theheight of the jaw 7 and the ears 8 upon the plate 2, it being possible to construct my device with the jaws near the top thereof or very much lower down, as desired. By the construction of the plate 2, as shown in Fig. 1, such plate is adapted to besecured to bedrails of varying width.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a bedclothes-fastener, the combination with a plate having a portion at right angles to its length, means for clamping the plate to the rail of a bed, and a movable plate pivoted to said plate between its ends and having a longitudinal slot, of a bolt held at one end in the fixed plate and passed through the slot in the movable plate, and a thumbnut on the outer end of said bolt bearing against the plate upon opposite sides of the slot therein, the said stationary and movable plates being provided with cooperating clamping-jaws for holding the clothes, substantially as described.

2. As animproved article of manufacture, the bedclothes-clamp herein described, comprising a base-plate having formed integral therewith a right-angle projection, means for holding the same to the rail of a bed, said plate being formed also near one end with ears and near the other with a stationary jaw projecting at right angles from the plate, and having convex face, a movable plate pivotally mounted at one end in said ears, and having at the other end a recess for cooperation with the stationary jaw, said movable plate being formed between the jaw and its pivot with an elongated slot, and a bolt held at one end in the fixed plate with its other end passed 

